By Martin Muleya.
Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) An Australian-funded scheme is saving and transforming lives of marginalized communities in Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces.
With funding from the Australian Government, Zimbabwean NGOs have supported the improvement in the health of more than 13,000 women and children. The funding provides modern family planning methods, child vaccinations, and safe and clean baby delivery services.
The US$90 million, Australian program is funded by the Australian Government, through Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) focuses on improving the lives of poor and marginalised people, in particular improving their access to services. Gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key priority of the program.
Nearly 5,000 women smallholder farmers have also improved their agricultural productivity thanks to Australian funding for fertiliser and seeds, and access to agricultural extension services. More than 17,000 people accessed safe and sustainable water, appropriate sanitation and safer hygienic practices.
“Non-Governmental Organizations supported by Australia under the AACES program have made significant contribution in improving women and children’s access to clean and safe water as well as health services.
“This has had positive impacts on children’ day-to-day activities such as going to school, and for pregnant women, it has meant safe delivery of healthy babies. We commend NGOs in their important work in making people’s lives better.” said His Excellence Matthew Neuhaus, Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Australian-supported NGOs are working with private sector healthcare clinics to provide sustainable, cost-effective sexual and reproductive health services. Thus an increase in access to health services means women can make informed decisions on the family planning methods they want and gives them greater control over education for themselves and their children.
The construction of Maternal Waiting Homes has eased the burden for women, reduced maternal and neo-natal deaths, transmission of HIV from mother to child and the risk of HIV transmission between those assisting and conducting deliveries.
Since the first home was constructed in 2012, there has been significant reduction in the number of babies born HIV positive to 1 percent from an alarming 10 percent before the homes.
The local authorities’ are now rolling the Maternal Waiting Homes to other areas as a model for enhancing maternal and child health.
“The provision of a safe place to deliver has changed our lives, we no longer have to worry about walking long distances while in labor and incurring costs of going to Mutoko district hospital to deliver… The new Maternal home has brought a lot of benefits such as learning which we did not think initially,” says an expectant women at Kawere Maternity Waiting Home.
Apart from the health service delivery system the Australian government through their various donors have engaged villagers in an agriculture system that includes distribution of seeds and fertilizer attracting more than 8,000 smallholder farmers, including women and men with disability.
Support through village savings and loans associations under the program is essential in strengthening women’s business while diversifying their incomes.
Farmers’ groups were also assisted in accessing land in kitchen gardens, livestock rearing and business management. Community nutrition gardens and conservation agriculture have enhanced food availability for targeted households, and families are able to feed their children with nutritious food.
The gardens have also reduced domestic violenceas evidenced through midterm review findings, where women reported that their ability to contribute towards provision of food in the home has reduced the burden on their husbands.
“Conservation agriculture increased my yield from 40 kg of maize to 500 kg”, says a 77-year-old widow.
The Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) is implemented in Zimbabwe by Community Technology Development Trust and Plan International Zimbabwe.
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was contracted in January 2012 by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as the Resource Facility for the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES). AACES is a partnership of the Australian Government, ten Australian Non-Governmental Organisations and their Africa-based partners.
The program is being implemented over five years (2011-16) in 11 African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In its third year, 731,709 people benefitted from the program of which 449,229 were women and girls.
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